Principal Information Security Architect

Placements24; Randburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Health benefits

Remote work

Professional development budget

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Information Security Architect for a fully remote role. You will define and drive the security architecture across cloud-native platforms, leading threat modeling, risk assessments, and security strategy for large-scale fintech environments.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in information security, advanced degrees, and certifications like CISSP-ISSAP, with strong leadership and collaboration skills to mentor engineers and influence technical strategy in a

Qualifications

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or related field.
• 10+ years in information security with a focus on architecture and design.
• Experience designing security architectures for large-scale cloud environments (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Deep understanding of secure coding, cryptography, IAM, and network security.
• Familiarity with NIST, ISO 27001, SOC 2 frameworks.
• Expertise in microservices, API, and container security.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Advanced certifications like CISSP-ISSAP, SABSA are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain security architecture principles and roadmap.
• Design secure solutions for cloud-native, microservices, and distributed systems.
• Lead security architecture reviews for engineering and product teams.
• Develop security patterns and blueprints across stacks.
• Oversee selection and implementation of security technologies and tools.
• Conduct threat modeling and risk assessments for initiatives and systems.
• Ensure alignment with business goals and regulatory requirements.
• Mentor architects and engineers to foster security excellence.

Skills

Security architecture

Cloud security

Threat modeling

IAM

Security frameworks

Container security

Leadership

Communication

Strategic influence

Education

Master's degree or Ph.D. in CS/Cybersecurity

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role Our client, a globally recognized leader in fintech innovation, is seeking a highly experienced and strategic Principal Information Security Architect to join their fully remote team. This senior position is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining the security architecture that protects the company's cutting-edge platforms and vast amounts of sensitive financial data. You will lead the technical vision for security, ensuring that our client's solutions are secure by design and resilient against sophisticated threats. The ideal candidate is a thought leader with deep expertise in secure architecture, risk management, and cloud security, passionate about building and scaling secure environments in a remote-first setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the organization's security architecture principles, standards, and roadmap.
• Design secure solutions for complex systems, including cloud-native applications, microservices, and distributed systems.
• Lead security architecture reviews and provide expert guidance to engineering and product teams.
• Develop and implement security patterns and blueprints for various technology stacks.
• Oversee the selection and implementation of security technologies and tools.
• Conduct threat modeling and risk assessments for new initiatives and existing systems.
• Ensure security architecture aligns with business objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Stay ahead of emerging threats and security technologies, translating them into architectural improvements.
• Mentor security architects and engineers, fostering a culture of security excellence.

Requirements

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in information security, with a significant focus on security architecture and design.
• Extensive experience designing and implementing security architectures for large-scale cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Deep understanding of secure coding practices, cryptography, network security, and identity and access management (IAM).
• Proven experience with security frameworks such as NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISO 27001, and SOC 2.
• Expertise in microservices security, API security, and container security.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and drive technical strategy.
• Relevant advanced certifications like CISSP-ISSAP, SABSA, or cloud security architect certifications are highly desirable.

Benefits

Our client offers an exceptional compensation package including a highly competitive salary, significant stock options, and comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits. As a fully remote organization, we offer unparalleled flexibility in working hours and location. We invest heavily in our employees' professional development, providing budgets for training, certifications, and conferences.